"Our goal for this year is not just to say good things about chemistry," said Irina Bokova, UNESCO director general, at the opening ceremony. "We want to say the truth about chemistry—its advantages and disadvantages, its opportunities, but also its risks."

Nicole J. Moreau, president of IUPAC, pointed out that chemistry will play an important role in solving some of the world's major challenges, including human health, food security, energy, and sustainable development. Moreau added that chemistry has "an abominable image" that she hopes will be improved by public outreach activities during IYC.

Marie Sklodowska-Curie's granddaughter, Hélène Langevin-Joliot, gave a keynote lecture at the IYC opening ceremonies. Langevin-Joliot, a nuclear physicist from the Institute of Nuclear Physics at Orsay, in France, described the life and accomplishments of her grandmother, who worked in an era when the scientific achievements of women were "ignored," she said.

Marie Sklodowska-Curie's granddaughter, Hélène Langevin-Joliot, talks about her grandmother's life at the IYC opening.

Credit: Sarah Everts/C&EN

HISTORICAL INSPIRATION

Marie Sklodowska-Curie's granddaughter, Hélène Langevin-Joliot, talks about her grandmother's life at the IYC opening.

Credit: Sarah Everts/C&EN

This sentiment resonates with another goal of IYC, which is to reinforce the struggles that women around the world still face in chemistry. Bokova noted that women make up only 30% of chemistry researchers and that there have been only four female chemistry Nobel Prize winners.

The opening ceremonies featured lectures from chemistry Nobel Laureates Ada Yonath (2009), Jean-Marie Lehn (1987), and Yuan T. Lee (1986). Also planned are sessions devoted to how chemistry, through its role in global medicine, agriculture, and energy, can contribute to sustainable development.

"It's very exciting to celebrate the opening of IYC with chemists from all over the world," said Nancy B. Jackson, president of the American Chemical Society and attendee of the festivities in Paris. "Many of the chemical societies have brought young people and educators. I hope their experiences here in Paris will help them spark excitement about chemistry back in their home countries."

The opening ceremonies are just the beginning of many events to celebrate chemistry around the world in 2011, from science cafés in Cape Cod to chemistry shows in Sydney, Australia, to undergraduate competitions in Beirut, Lebanon, to museum displays in Athens, Greece.